Bypass valves for pool heaters

Abstract

Bypass valves for pool heaters are disclosed. Embodiments may include pool heaters with a heat exchanger, a support, and an automatic bypass valve coupled to the support. The automatic bypass valve may include a cylindrical bypass shaft, and a bypass valve having a non-circular opening configured to receive the bypass shaft, where the bypass valve is configured to slide along the cylindrical bypass shaft responsive to water pressure in the heat exchanger, and where water and debris can flow through the non-circular opening when the bypass valve is in a closed position.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pool heater comprising:
 a header;   a heat exchanger;   a support; and   an automatic bypass valve coupled to the support, the automatic bypass valve comprising:
 a cylindrical bypass shaft; 
 a bypass valve comprising a non-circular opening configured to receive the bypass shaft, wherein the bypass valve is configured to slide along the cylindrical bypass shaft responsive to water pressure in the header, and wherein water can flow through the non-circular opening when the bypass valve is in a closed position, and wherein the bypass valve is flush with the support in the closed position; and 
 a spring disposed about the cylindrical bypass shaft, the spring configured to bias the bypass valve toward the closed position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pool heater of  claim 1 , wherein the automatic bypass valve is disposed downstream of a filter and upstream of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The pool heater of  claim 1 , wherein the non-circular opening is a hexagonal shaped aperture comprising a plurality of semi-circular cutouts. 
     
     
         4 . The pool heater of  claim 1 , wherein the non-circular opening comprises at least six regions of contact between the bypass valve and the cylindrical bypass shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The pool heater of  claim 4 , wherein each region of contact has a width of between 0.1 to 0.2 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The pool heater of  claim 4 , wherein each region of contact has a radius of between 0.15 to 0.20 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The pool heater of  claim 4 , wherein each region of contact is separated by 60° from adjacent regions of contact. 
     
     
         8 . The pool heater of  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a first portion having a first aperture, and a second portion having a second aperture, and wherein the cylindrical bypass shaft is disposed in the first aperture, such that a first end of the cylindrical bypass shaft is on a first side of the first portion, and a second end of the cylindrical bypass shaft is on a second side of the first portion. 
     
     
         9 . The pool heater of  claim 8 , wherein the second end of the cylindrical bypass shaft is disposed in the second aperture, and wherein the automatic bypass valve further comprises a lug nut coupled to the second end of the cylindrical bypass shaft to secure the cylindrical bypass shaft to the support. 
     
     
         10 . A heater comprising:
 a heat exchanger; and   an automatic bypass valve comprising:
 a bypass shaft; 
 a spring disposed about the bypass shaft; and 
 a bypass valve comprising an aperture configured to receive the bypass shaft, wherein water can flow through at least a portion of the aperture when the bypass valve is in a closed position, and wherein the aperture is a hexagonal shaped aperture comprising a plurality of semi-circular cutouts. 
   
     
     
         11 . The heater of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a support;   wherein the automatic bypass valve is coupled to the support.   
     
     
         12 . The heater of  claim 10 , wherein the bypass valve is configured to slide along the bypass shaft responsive to water pressure in the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The heater of  claim 10 , wherein the automatic bypass valve is disposed downstream of a water filter and upstream of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         14 . The heater of  claim 10 , wherein the aperture comprises at least six regions of contact between the bypass valve and the bypass shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The heater of  claim 14 , wherein each region of contact has a width of between 0.1 to 0.2 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The heater of  claim 10 , wherein each region of contact has a radius of between 0.15 to 0.20 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The heater of  claim 10 , wherein the spring is configured to bias the bypass valve toward the closed position. 
     
     
         18 . A pool heater comprising:
 a heat exchanger;   a support; and   an automatic bypass valve coupled to the support, the automatic bypass valve comprising:
 a bypass shaft; 
 a spring disposed about the bypass shaft; and 
 a bypass valve comprising a non-circular aperture configured to receive the bypass shaft, wherein debris can flow through at least a portion of the non-circular aperture when the bypass valve is in a closed position; 
 wherein the non-circular aperture comprises at least six regions of contact between the bypass valve and the bypass shaft, and wherein each region of contact is separated by 60° from adjacent regions of contact.